House Mourns Former Speaker

Former Speaker of the House Tom Foley has died at the age of 84.

Mr. Foley served as the 57th Speaker of the House from 1989 until 1995. He represented Washington State’s 5th Congressional District for thirty years. After his congressional career, Mr. Foley served as U.S. Ambassador to Japan.

Honoring the former House Speaker, Speaker John Boehner said: “Today the House mourns the loss of our beloved former colleague… Forthright and warmhearted, Tom Foley endeared himself not only to the wheat farmers back home but also colleagues on both sides of the aisle. That had a lot to do with his solid sense of fairness, which remains a model for any Speaker or representative.

“With his passing, the House loses one of its most devoted servants and the country loses a great statesman.”